Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 78

Nityā-paṭala-prakaraṇa

The Exposition of the Nityā-paṭala

Devanagari script

पूर्णासु नियत्तं देवीं कन्यकायां समर्चयन् । कृत्याः परेरिता मंत्रा विमुखांस्तान् ग्रसंति वै ॥ ७८ ॥

Transliteration

pūrṇāsu niyattaṃ devīṃ kanyakāyāṃ samarcayan | kṛtyāḥ pareritā maṃtrā vimukhāṃstān grasaṃti vai || 78 ||

Translation

เมื่อบูชาเทวีอย่างถูกระเบียบ ในกาลพุรณาอันกำหนดไว้ โดยสถิตเป็นรูปกุมารี มนตร์ที่ถูกคฤตยาเร่งเร้าย่อมจับผู้ที่หันเหแล้วกลืนกินโดยแท้

Word by Word

• पूर्णासु: on the full(-moon) occasions
• पूर्णासु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्णा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन; (locative plural: 'on/at the Pūrṇā days' or 'among the full (tithis)')

• नियताम्: restrained/regulated
• नियताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies devīm)

• देवीम्: the goddess
• देवीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• कन्यकायाम्: in/at a maiden (girl)
• कन्यकायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• समर्चयन्: worshipping
• समर्चयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ); परस्मैपदम्; पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा एकवचन; (present participle: 'worshipping')

• कृत्याः: (malevolent) rites/spirits (kṛtyās)
• कृत्याः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृत्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पर: by others
• पर: Viśeṣaṇa-aṅga (समासाङ्ग)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (compound member)

• ईरिताः: sent/impelled by others
• ईरिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ईरित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: पर-ईरित; भूतकृदन्त (क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग प्रथमा बहुवचन; (qualifies kṛtyāḥ)

• मन्त्राः: mantras/spells
• मन्त्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; (apposition/secondary subject)

• विमुखान्: turned away/repelled
• विमुखान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies tān)

• तान्: those (ones)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• ग्रसन्ति: devour/consume
• ग्रसन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present); परस्मैपदम्; प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with the Sanatkumara brothers, teaching technical ritual outcomes)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Devi
• Kanya (Kumari form)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It stresses niyama (regulated discipline) in worship: properly performed Devi-upasana becomes spiritually potent, and misaligned or hostile intent is shown as self-destructive through the very mantra-power invoked.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Even within technical ritual sections, the verse implies that sincere, correct reverence (proper worship of the Devi) protects and empowers, while turning away from dharma or approaching with hostility leads to adverse consequences.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Ritual timing and rule-bound procedure (niyama) are emphasized—choosing prescribed occasions (like pūrṇā times) and correct performance so that mantra-prayoga yields intended results rather than backlash.